Its Been a Hail of a Spring

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As the last of the cold winter is blown out and warmer air is brought in we get a glimpse of what we’ve missed during winter. As annoying as the wind is, it signals seasonal changes. Warmer temperatures are a refreshing change from the coldness we experienced for the last six months. But what does windy weather mean to your roofs?

It could mean nothing at all…if your roof and the surrounding area are properly maintained. Or it could mean potentially damaging problems. With the spurt of growth spring has brought, trees have branched out and leaf buds have bloomed. With branching out, limbs that were a fair distance from walls and roofs could now be rubbing against your buildings and possibly your roofs, as well. Coping cap, drip metal, wall flashings and roofing membrane are in a position now to be damaged from rubbing branches. Higher mile per hour gusts and steady winds stir green branches into a frenzy. Flexibility of green wood protects trees from what would be damaging results from wind, but that flexibility also allows for destruction of your property if left unabated.

Consider tree trimming or tree removal, especially if a tree is too close to the building. Branches should have a clearance of five feet. Our technicians can trim branches to ensure roof protection. If a tree has dead branches those need to be removed regardless, not only for building protection but for public safety as well.

Windy weather can also cause wall flashings to billow. Billowing wall flashings cause damage to flashings and cracking along the base of the wall, which, of course, causes leaks. Billowing wall flashings are easily remedied. Upson technicians will either terminate the wall and weld a strip along the termination or re-glue the wall. A short service call now will keep you off the waiting list during peak leak time.

With the promise of warmer weather, we also know it will soon be scorching. Roof temperatures climb upwards of 150 degrees. Yup, one hundred and fifty. To ensure maximum membrane malleability, clean roofs function better than dirty, grimy roofs. Our maintenance technicians are completing spring inspections right now. Call the office and get your roof cleaning scheduled now, to prevent any malfunctions later. If your building houses a restaurant definitely call before the hot weather sets in for the summer.

Restaurant roofs need cleaned at least twice a year, if not four times if grease traps are particularly bad. Grease from exhaust vents accumulates on the membrane affecting roof integrity. It may seem like an easy fix: send someone up with a pressure washer to spray the grease away. However, that could not be further from the truth. Pressurized water will rip into the membrane if proper techniques are not used. An Upson Maintenance technician will clean the roof with approved cleaners and techniques. And he can guarantee the cleaning won’t be the cause of leaks the next time it rains.